In 1926, 12 years before Orson Welles 's infamous War of the Worlds broadcast, the fledgeling BBC sparked its own national panic by broadcasting news of a murderous riot in central London, which turned out to be a spoof created by Catholic priest Ronald Knox (played here by Bob Sinfield). Presenter Ray Snoddy finds that the then BBC managing director John Reith's reaction was a surprising one. Producers Paul Slade and Nick Baker Rptd Sun 12.15am